| Author | Message | ||
     Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 138 Registered: 09-2002 |
Hey guys I'm having a hell of a time with my panhard rod. I bought a 12 ton press to press the bushings out to renew them since I'm sitting at 154k and I have some bad vibes at 65. Anyhow, these bushings are stuck like nothing else inside that rod. While pressing the first one out I noticed I ended up bending the end of the rod about 8 degrees off of center. That's crazy. Are the stock panhard rods that weak, or are my bushings demonic? Has anyone ever run into a problem off road with a bent, or broken rod? What are some helpful tips on pressing these bushings out? Thanks, Jared | ||
| Alex Schubow (Alex) Member Username: Alex Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2002 |
bigger press! | ||
| Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 139 Registered: 09-2002 |
Bigger press so I can bend the rod more? Eh!? I must not be doing something right! | ||
| paul londrigan (Neversummer) Member Username: Neversummer Post Number: 129 Registered: 11-2002 |
Burn them out, use a torch or soak them in gas to get them going and just keep on burnin em till there is nothing left in there, just don't let the environmental nuts know you are doing it like that. | ||
| Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 140 Registered: 09-2002 |
Well I could maybe see how that'd get the inner rubber out, but what about the outer metal part of the bushing? | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 244 Registered: 10-2002 |
Before you give yourself lung cancer try using a drill with progressively bigger bits to remove center section. For outer metals sleeve use a metal saw blade and carefully cut through in 2 places about 1/2" or so apart without sawing into panhard rod metal. CAREFULLY try to punch out 1/2" section you have "cut out" (it may "peel" back). Once section is out the rest of ring should easily collapse- Good luck. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Senior Member Username: Bri Post Number: 482 Registered: 08-2002 |
Greg, My god, is it really that hard or should you just use a big press. What could you do to avoid the original problem of bending the rod while attempting to remove? Was the rod just positioned in the press incorrectly? | ||
| Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 141 Registered: 09-2002 |
I dont think the size of the press was the problem. 12 tons of force should be no problem to move out bushings, but I dunno. I finally got them out though, it took me way to damn long. Probably 7 hours total to take them out, put them back in, and frustration. The way the press is set up, it was really jinky to begin with. The panhard rod is pretty long, so I spent most of the time hassling with a chain type vice grip to hold it to the press, then the rest of the time positioning everything to be straight. I ended up having to use a socket just a tad smaller than the size of the bushing. Bushing was 7/8, so I used 13/16 socket. The bending problem is on the end that wraps around the differential, since neither side sits flat, you're either working with a bump or a dip, and for some reason it wanted to bend on me(and it did) when I removed that bushing. Now, I need to take it to my welder friend with a torch to heat it and knock the rod back straight, because it doesnt want to fit back in there correctly. But I guess on the bright side it has new bushings. Good god, this was a pain. I should have paid the 30 bucks to take it to a machine shop and let them hassle with it. | ||
| Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 142 Registered: 09-2002 |
Oh and I dropped it on my head when I was attempting to put it back under the car. One side slipped and it swung back down and landed on my forehead. Glad there wernt any kids around, because they'd be scared for life. | ||
| Brian Friend (Brianfriend) Senior Member Username: Brianfriend Post Number: 1075 Registered: 09-2002 |
the good thing about the panhard rod is that it only centers your axle. even if it is bent a bit it shouldn't effect you driving. Lots of the other bushings that you replace will though. | ||
| David Zymowski (Davidz) New Member Username: Davidz Post Number: 7 Registered: 04-2003 |
I just replaced all the suspension bushings in my 97 D1.I used a Ball joint press that i rented from Autozone. The ball joint press looks like a big heavy duty c-clamp with a hex drive for a socket.it also comes with spacers big enough for the bushings to go through. I put the tool in the vise and clamped it down tight.now i did use copious amounts of penetrating oil on the bushings after i hit them with a wire wheel first. the oil really only helps as the bushing is being pushed through the arm to keep it lubricated. Now i did use a 1/2"drive socket between the clamp and the bushing to get a solid drive. to operate the clamp I used a 30" breaker bar. everything must be aligned perfectly to drive out the bushing. I used this set up to replace every bushing on the suspension even the control arms. Patience when setting the tool is the key to success.It must be straight. | ||
| Greg Hirst (Gregh) Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 245 Registered: 10-2002 |
BrianD- It's really not that difficult but it definitely takes more time than just pressing out. BTW-by drilling out I meant numerous drilling holes through rubber section around edge to allow center section to fall out-took me about 10 minutes per bushing with aggressive drill use when I was stuck without a press and replaced a couple bushings. I figured his metal ring on bushing was frozen(rusted) to panhard rod and this is an option. | ||
| Jared Schnelle (Jared) Member Username: Jared Post Number: 143 Registered: 09-2002 |
I managed to get everything working. I just used a socket that was a tad bit smaller than the hole for the bushing, and big enough to hit the metal perfectly all the way around. I think the bushing was 7/8 and I used a 13/16 socket. I agree with the above poster about getting it perfect in the press before you even attempt. The hardest thing for me was getting it to sit correct. I suppose I should have spent extra effort setting up some other support system. i.e. bolt it to the ground and get a good vice. Everything is back on and all is well. |
